The aim of this blog is to critically appraise Nigerian Social Institutions,
whilst professing innovative and creative ways of improved service provision
within available resources but most importantly within safe ethical
guidelines of social work during intervention, counselling and
rehabilitation.
Constructive feedback is encouraged - Happy reading!

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Sunday, March 29, 2015

The
number of Nigerian women actively engaged in politics keeps increasing. Active
participation by such amazons means better representation for women. However,
it may be years before Nigerians – men and even women- would trust women vying
for political offices enough to vote them into power.

Nigerians
went to the polls yesterday, March 28, 2015, to elect who would lead and
legislate for Africa’s most populous black nation for the next four years.

In one
of the most highly contested presidential elections since the nation embraced
democracy, again, in 1999, the presidential contest pitches the incumbent,
President Jonathan Goodluck of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against a
retired general, General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress
(APC).

Although
the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the elections
for another day, there is a general sense of optimism in the continued fairness
and transparency with which the elections are being conducted. And, that is a
good thing given the unnecessary tension in the run-up to the election.

In
Lagos, the nation’s economic capital, Festac Town precisely, where I registered
to vote, the election was peaceful, fair and transparent.

The
polling booths of the three units I monitored were fairly accessible to Persons
with Disabilities (PWDs). Security personnel’s, although sparse, could be seen
observing the proceedings.

Officials
of INEC arrived at about 9:00am bearing accreditation as well as voting
materials.

Of the
734 persons registered to vote at the polling booth where I registered, only
230 were accredited, 8 persons had minor issues were asked to fill out incident
forms before they were allowed to cast their votes, totalling 238 persons who
voted.

There
was a lot of excitement as voting officially commenced. Akamu Rama Mohammed, a
visually impaired senior citizen was accompanied to the polling booth and
assisted by his son in casting his votes. He said, “I am excited about this
election and being allowed to vote. Four years ago, I voted by myself because I
could still see, I was worried they would not allow me vote this time because I
brought my son to help me.”

Speaking
on his hopes on the outcome of the elections, he continues “The doctors say I
have cataract and I need to operate it so that I can see again. I do not have
the money. I pray the outcome of this election provides free medical services
so that I can see again.”

Women Showed Up In Their
Throngs

Very
prominent amongst the electorate here were women of all ages.

Not
only did they arrive promptly at about 8:00am for their accreditation, they
stayed to vote and waited until their votes were counted at about 7:00pm before
leaving the polling unit.

Helen,
an 18 year old girl who voted for the first time yesterday was all smiles. “I
feel important, I feel powerful. I have a say in my future. I am seeking
admission into the university; I came out to vote because I do not want to
experience ASUU strike when I get into the university.”

Election Results

The
ruling party, PDP got 127 votes; the major opposition party, APC got 87 votes
while Kowa party, the only political party with a woman running for the office
of the president received just 2 votes in the presidential polls.

12
women and 8 men whom I chose randomly to interview all expressed their respect
and admiration for Prof. Remi Sonaiya, the KOWA Party’s presidential candidate,
although they did not vote for her. When I asked them why they did not vote for
her, the men’s responses were similar “How can a woman say she wants to lead a
country? What does that turn her husband and men into?”

The
women said they did not trust her with such responsibility even though she
seems capable. One reported “Something is just wrong with the picture… a woman
ruling a nation.”

Women’s Bias Towards Women In
Politics

Women,
not trusting other woman whom they hitherto agreed has all the right qualities
of a good leader with the task of leading a nation, may be a reflection of
women’s views and attitudes towards themselves, and how, over the years, they
have internalized the ideas of patriarchy.

By
preferring to settle, to fit in, not rattling the status quo and by allowing
men lead even when, after careful consideration, they believe themselves and/or
other women capable of leading, women are denying the divinity of the feminine.

Going
further to make comments such as ‘something is just wrong with the picture...’
goes to show how years of gender inequality, subjugation and suppression has
recruited more women into the patriarchal clan and notion of leadership.

What
else could be right with the picture?

A society with entrenched patriarchy leading it would only crumble; women and men should uplift competent women where is qualified to lead. Women are not unequal to men.

Friday, March 27, 2015

Nigerians, home and abroad. What a significant time
in the trajectory of our young democracy this is.

We are at a defining moment in our democracy and we
all - present in this time have the privilege of playing a role in shaping our
nations destiny.

I was discussing with a colleague earlier and he
said “Nigeria is preparing for her first democratic elections…” and I could not
agree more.

The last few months have showed us a glimpse of
what a true democracy could be, should be. Though we are many years away from
upholding the tenets of a true democracy, there is no gainsaying that we are in
the right direction.

Political office aspirants have been busy,
rigorously canvassing for our votes, persuading us to trust their promises,
making us feel and believe that for the first time, our votes will count.

This feeling has being empowering.

In a few hours, the presidential polls
will open, paving the way for all of us, eligible voters to chart the course of
our future. We have that much power at our disposal, and I suggest we use it
very wisely.

“…there is only one team in this ‘game’ and it is
‘#TeamNigeria.”

As we go to the polls to exercise our
constitutional right and civic duty, let us think unity and oneness of purpose.

Let us bear in mind that there is only one team in
this ‘game’ and it is ‘#TeamNigeria.

Let us think carefully before making insidious and
inflammatory comments that may insight others to violence, let us think about
the common space that we share, this space that holds us all together –
Nigeria.

Let us remember that a true democracy neither
begins at the polls nor does it end at the polling booth, it is a continuous
process. We must defend and protect our votes, and even after the winners have
being declared, we must remember and be prepared to hold them accountable for
their actions and/or inactions.

Let us hunger alone for a taste of justice and
truth.

It is my utmost wish that the outcome of this
election bring peace, progress and prosperity to all Nigeria and all Nigerians.

Sunday, March 08, 2015

International Women's Day 2015. ASHA Advocates for Girls Rights to Education

March 8, 2015

“…there shall be no bridging the gender equity gap if women are still being bullied or brow beaten into dropping out of school for their brothers neither can we attain gender equality if women and girls seeking education become victims to reprisals.“ Vweta Chadwick

Education for girls and women is still considered a tall order in some parts of the world. Despite interventions designed to tackle this, many, especially those living in poor and war/violence stricken countries and communities still lack access to basic education.

In Ajegunle, for example,a community where Project ASHA’s Empowering Women of the Future (EWOF) project has worked with women and girls for the last three years, girls right to education is still considered a luxury by many. Some parents consider it ‘bad investment’ to send their girls to school up to the secondary level let alone the tertiary, preferring to pay the fees of their brothers, in their words “She will marry and be another man’s property.”

Sunday, March 01, 2015

On
April 14 2014, almost 300 Nigerian schoolgirls were abducted from their school
dormitory in the middle of the night. There has been reports of subsequent abductions of girls
and women in North Eastern Nigeria as a form of deterrent to girls education.

About The Author

Ms. Vweta Chadwick is ASHA’s Global Programmes Director. She is a committed social worker and fierce advocate for human and civil rights within and outside Nigeria.

Ms Chadwick is also a blogger on social and disability issues; a CYFI Alumni (the Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative – a youth outreach initiative of the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos – 2013/14); a Leadership Effectiveness Accountability Professionalism (LEAP) Africa Social Innovators Programmes Fellowship Alumni (2013/2014) and a World Pulse Voices of Our Future Correspondent (a global media and communication network devoted to bringing women a global voice by broadcasting and uniting women's voices) for 2013 - 2015.

Ms Chadwick has been working in the Humanitarian Sector in Nigeria under the auspices of ASHA since 2008